Adventures in New Guinea eBook

the liberties and possess themselves of the lands of
such native inhabitants, that a British protectorate
should be established over a certain portion of such
country and the islands adjacent thereto; and whereas
Her Majesty, having taken into her gracious consideration
the urgent necessity of her protection to such inhabitants,
has directed me to proclaim such protection in a formal
manner at this place,—­now I, James Elphinstone
Erskine, Captain in the Royal Navy and Commodore of
the Australian Station, one of Her Majesty’s
naval aides-de-camp, do hereby, in the name of Her
Most Gracious Majesty, declare and proclaim the establishment
of such protectorate over such portions of the coast
and the adjacent islands as is more particularly described
in the schedule hereunto annexed; and I hereby proclaim
and declare that no acquisition of land, whensoever
or howsoever acquired, within the limits of the protectorate
hereby established will be recognized by Her Majesty;
and I do hereby, on behalf of Her Majesty, command
and enjoin all persons whom it may concern to take
notice of this proclamation.

“Schedule.

“All that portion of the southern
shores of New Guinea commencing from the boundary
of that portion of the country claimed by the Government
of the Netherlands on the 141st meridian of east
longitude to East Cape, with all the islands adjacent
thereto south of East Cape to Kosmann Island inclusive,
together with the islands in the Goschen Straits.

“Given on board Her Majesty’s
ship Nelson, at the harbour of Port
Moresby, on the 6th day of November,
1884.”

The die has thus been cast. Already rumours
that seem to have some foundation are in the air that
the protectorate is soon to become annexation.
It should be the aim of all to see that, by the force
of public opinion, the last portion of the heathen
world that has come under English protection shall
have, as the years pass, many and solid reasons for
thanking God that He has so guided its destinies as
to unite them to our great Empire.

CHAPTER I. EARLY EXPERIENCES.

Somerset—­Murray Island—­Darnley
Island—­Boera—­Moresby—­Trip
inland—­Sunday at Port Moresby—­Native
funeral ceremonies—­Tupuselei—­Round
Head—­Native salutations—­Kerepunu—­Teste
Island—­Hoop-iron as an article of commerce—­Two
teachers landed—­A tabooed place—­Moresby
and Basilisk Islands—­South Cape—­House
building—­Difficulties with the natives—­An
anxious moment—­Thefts—­Dancing
and cooking—­Visit to a native village—­Native
shot on the Mayri—­Mr. and Mrs. Chalmers
in danger—­Arrival of the Ellengowan.

Towards the close of 1877, Mr. Chalmers and Mr. McFarlane
visited New Guinea for the purpose of exploring the
coast, landing native teachers at suitable spots,
and thus opening the way for future missionary effort.
What follows is given in Mr. Chalmers’s words:—­